Christian Potter, ENT consultant, Buckingham Healthcare NHS Trust
And so to Gothenberg, home of Volvo, Ericsson and AstraZeneca, Scandinavia’s largest port city and trade hub. World class seafood, laid-back street culture and (for a few days at least) more ENT Surgeons than you could shake a proverbial stick at. Yes, the eighth biennial Congress of the Confederation of European ORL-HNS was in town, basking in the success of Dublin and breaking records for sheer scale and ambition. Based at the vibrant Gothia towers complex, the largest Nordic Hotel in the world and famed far and wide for its celebrated rackmacka (shrimp sandwich), the 23rd floor Heaven bar briefly became the nerve-centre of our speciality for four gloriously sunny days in April. 
The scientific programme was honed by Linda Marklund, Per Caye-Thomasen and Rusana Bark and divided into 21 ‘tracks’ according to subspeciality interest. There was even an efficient app to guide the bewildered through the labyrinthine conference centre. Throughout all, the baleful Sauron-like gaze of AI hovered in the background, with constant promises of game-changing breakthroughs just around the corner, but all current applications seemingly remaining in silico. 
Personal highlights included a spirited defence of aggressive sinus clearance prior to biologicals from James Palmer, and the increasingly remarkable outcomes of Dupilumab and its sister molecules in recent clinical trials, genuinely revolutionising our management strategies. There was standing room only for updates on HHT (that perennial favourite) and paediatric emergencies, with packed houses for olfaction updates and vestibular migraine management. Most memorable perhaps was the terrifying footage of internal carotid injury in ESS by (of all things) a Tisseal applicator. I’m still not quite my usual self yet. 
If you truly want to feel the pulse of our rapidly evolving speciality, delve deep into your narrow subspeciality or sprawl in its broader generalities, Berlin 2028 should already be in your diary:
https://ceorlhns.org/events/confederation-congress/upcoming-congress
🎉 3,777 participants from all over the world
🎤 800+ expert speakers in ORL-HNS
💬498 scientific sessions, poster discussions and society village presentations
🤝 77 exhibiting companies and sponsors
🌍 together we continued to create one voice for ORL-HNS in Europe and beyond
🏆 CEORL-HNS 2026 once again proved to be the largest ENT event in Europe
🎊 celebrating together at the iconic Eriksberghallen
A trainee's perspective: Where the Future of ENT Came into Focus!
Sofia Anastasiadou, ST6 ENT, University Hospitals Bristol, UK
Few meetings capture the energy of a specialty quite like CEORL-HNS, and this year’s congress was no exception. Attending across all days of CEORL-HNS 2026, the sense was unmistakable: otorhinolaryngology is moving quickly, and the European ENT community is determined to move with it.
From the opening session to the final discussions, the congress delivered more than a packed scientific programme. It offered a vivid snapshot of a specialty that is becoming increasingly collaborative, technologically ambitious, and clinically refined. What stood out most to me was not simply the scale of the event, but the enthusiasm among delegates to engage with where the field is heading next. 
There was a particularly strong presence from the United Kingdom, with many British clinicians, trainees and researchers contributing to presentations and panel discussions. Seeing familiar faces, alongside meeting new colleagues, was one of the highlights of the meeting and reinforced the importance of maintaining strong international links within ENT.
From an academic perspective, several sessions stood out. The lecture on genetic treatment of hearing loss by Chen-Chi Wu was especially thought-provoking. It highlighted how gene-based therapies are gradually moving closer to clinical application. What once seemed firmly within experimental research is now moving closer to clinical application.
Similarly, the cholesteatoma surgery overview was both engaging and clinically relevant. The discussion around endoscopic techniques and evolving surgical strategies emphasised a shift toward more individualised care. A key takeaway for me was the importance of balancing disease clearance with long-term functional outcomes – something that will influence how I think about surgical planning and follow-up.
I also particularly enjoyed the exhibition space, which offered the chance to engage directly with new technologies. Being able to try endoscopy systems, explore virtual reality platforms, and speak with industry representatives added a practical dimension to the congress. It also prompted reflection on what is currently available in our own departments and where improvements could realistically be made.
Beyond the formal sessions, some of the most valuable moments came from informal conversations with colleagues. These discussions often translated into practical insights and shared experiences that felt directly applicable to everyday practice. The setting itself also helped, with the good weather in Gothenburg offering welcome opportunities to step outside in the sun, reflect, and reconnect before the next session. 
Overall, CEORL-HNS 2026 was both stimulating and enjoyable. It reinforced the importance of staying engaged with ongoing developments in the specialty, while also reminding us that some of the most meaningful learning comes from shared experience.
CEORL-HNS 2028 will take place16-20 September 2028 in Berlin.
For more news and stories from CEORL, see our special eshots from Gothenburg:
https://email.pinpoint-scotland.com/t/t-A5903A6F6366A54A2540EF23F30FEDED
https://email.pinpoint-scotland.com/t/t-3BE044326B04626C2540EF23F30FEDED
